Folding machine



May 10, 1949- E. D. cosToN 2,469,813

' FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 194e ATTORNEYS.

ELMER D. CosoN SYM May 10, 1949. lE. D. cosToN 2,469,813

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A INVENTOR: ELMER D. CosjToN ATTORNEYS.

May 10, 1949 5. D. cosToN 2,469,813

FOLDING' MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1946 4 Sheecs-Shee'tl 5 FIG. 5.

,e0 y INVENTOR: ELMER D. Co'sTN I BY ,.1

ATTORNEYS.

May 10, 1949- v E. D. cosToN 2,469,813

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Deo. 18, 194e 4 sheets-sheet 4 FIG. e. 7

INVENTOR: ELMER D Co TON BY v Patented May 10, 1949 2,469,813 FOLDING MACHINE Elmer D. Coston,

facturers Supplies Company,

corporation of Missouri Application December 18, 1946, Serial No. 716,927

Claims.

This invention relates generally to machines for folding leather or the like. I

While folding machines in considerable variety have heretofore been provided, it has not been easy to adapt the machines of the prior art to the folding of work pieces of different configurations and, while in my prior Patent No. 2,286,467, a folding apparatus was disclosed wherein the parts might be replaced with corresponding parts of different configurations without great diiiiculty, the apparatus there disclosed required to be operated in a press and necessitated careful adjustment of a number of moving parts in order to achieve satisfactory results.

The object of the present invention, generally stated, is to provide a self-contained folding machine, which may be readily adapted to various configurations of work, which is simple of construction, and which is productive of uniform results.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an embodiment of the folding machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, less treadle mechanism;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine shown in Figure 1 and provided with the treadle operating mechanism;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the folding part shown in Figure 2 and showing a work piece in position in the apparatus to be folded;

Figures '7, 8, and 9 are views corresponding to Figure 6 and showing succeeding phases of the folding operation; and

Figure 10 is a partial plan view showing a modified form of hold-down mechanism.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the folding machine, as shown in Figure 1, is intended to be mounted upon a table I or other suitable support and to be actu-l ated through zthe succeeding phases of the operation of folding pieces of leather or like material by the manipulation of treadles 2 and 3, yeach of which is connected with moving parts of the machine, to be described hereinafter..

Upon a base 4 is mounted an organization of St. Louis, Mo., assigner to Manu- St. Louis, Mo., a

mechanism, including a pressure member, which is adapted for limited movement in a vertical direction, and another organization, including a work support (together with a work piece) and a hold-down mechanism, adapted to be moved in a horizontal direction. The operation of these respective horizontally and vertically moving organizations is accomplished by proper manipulation of the treadles 2 and 3.

The vertically moving organization in-cludes a head 5 supported at its ends upon bolts 6, which are slidably received within bosses 'I on base 4. Below the bosses 1, the bolts 6 are interconnected by a bar 8. As will be observed from Figure 5,.

each of the bolts Ii is provided with a sleeve 60 so as to x the position of head 5 and bar 8 relative to the bolts. About each of the bolts 6 iS a coil spring 9 arranged to bias the head 5 in an upward direction relative to base 4.

Extending across the base 4 is a shaft I0 having cams II at opposite ends thereof. The cams are arranged for peripheral engagement with wear plates I2 secured to bar 8.

A crank arm I3 is suitably secured to camshaft Il) to prevent relative movement between said parts. A pitman I4 connects crank arm I3 with treadle 2, so that, upon depression of treadle 2, head 5 is drawn downwardly against the action of spring 9.

For limiting the upward travel of the head 5 and its adjunct parts just described, a plate I5, extending from bar 8, is arranged to engage the end of a set screw I6 mounted in base 4 (see Figure 2).

The horizontally movable organization of parts is actuated through a Work support I1, which is slidably mounted upon the upper surface of base 4 and has a projection I8 extending through a hole I9 in the upper surface of base 4. The hole I9 is shaped with reference to projection I8 so as to guide the latter in its horizontal translation. Projection I8 is connected with treadle 3 through a chain 20 operating over roller 2| so that, upon depression of the treadle 3 in a counterclockwise 451 direction, the projection I8 with work support I'i and all adjunct parts will be moved rightwardly from the position shown in Figure 2.

Mounted upon the work support I'i and arranged to translate therewith is a pair of brackets 22, to each of which is journaled a pair of links 23, 24, supporting a hold-down carrier 25. The link 24 is provided with a counterweight 26 arranged to substantiallybalance the hold-down mechanism now to be described.

Rods 21 extending forwardly from hold-down carrier support a hold-down mechanism, which includes a gripping member 28 and a forming member 29, the latter being movable relative to the former. The gripping member 23 consists of a thin plate secured to a frame 3u. Arranged outside the frame 30 is a frame 3l connected to the frame 30 by a pair of pin-and-slot organizations 32, 33, s hown clearly in Figures 6, '7, 8, and` 9. The forming member 29 is also a thin plate and rides directly upon the upper surface of grip-A ping member 28, the forming member 29 being secured to frame 3| so as to be slidable back and forth therewith and relative to frame 33 and gripping member 28.

The hold-down carrier 25 and its associated parts may be moved by hand between the position shown in full lines and the position shown in dotted lines. Alternatively, the hold-down carrier may be spring-biased toward the full line position and moved to the dotted line position by depressing treadle 3 clockwise (as seen in Figure 2), the, latter being connected through a chain to carrier 25.

In view of the factV that all of the parte 22 to 33 inclusive, are mounted upon work support I7, it is apparent that, upon translation of the work support by manipulation of treadle 3, the parts 22 to 33, inclusive, will likewise translate and, so long as the hold-down mechanism is heid in the position shown in full lines in Figure 1, there, will be no relative movement between the same and the work support l1 despite translation thereof.

Of the parts above described, only the forming member 29 is. required to be changed in accordance with the conguration of the work piece being operated upon. The edge 34 of former 23 is shaped in substantial accordance with the configuration of the folded edge to be produced.

Another set of parts carried by head 5 is, however, to be shaped according to the config,- uration of the Work piece to be operated upon. The presser 35 has a lip 3G, the margin of which is shaped according to the configuration of the -folded edge on the work piece, and adjacent the lip 36 is a shouldered portion, which constitutes an edge-gauge for the margin of the unfolded work piece. Such shoulder is likewise preferably shaped in accordance with the conguration of the margin of the unfolded work piece. While the shaping of the shoulder adjacent iip 35 is not necessarily throughout in strict accordance with the conguration of the unfolded work piece, it is essential that a plurality of points thereon be so positioned with reference to the margin of the lip 36 and the margin of the work piece that said shoulder may act as an edge-gauge and properly position the piece of material to be folded with reference to the margin of lip 3S. In the embodi ment shown, the presser 35 is removably mounted on head 5 through an intermediate plate 3'? and guides 31B.

The presser 35 is provided with a fioating gauge 38 movable relatively thereto in a vertical direction only. The gauge 33 is accommodated in a recess 3,9 in the lower surface of presser 35 when the latter is depressed into engagement with the Work support Il, as shown in Figure 6. A plurality of pins 40 extend through holes in presser 35 and plate 3l and are engaged above plate 3i by leaf springs 4l, which continuousiy urge gauge 38 out of recess 39 toward the position shown in Figure 8. Thus, when the presser 35 is elevated, the gauge 38 is forced out of recess 33 and constitutes an obstruction across the gap between the bottom surface of presser 35 and the upper 4 surface of work support I7. In this position, gauge 38 limits the translatory movement of the work piece and former 29 beneath presser 35. Consequently, it is desirable to shape gauge 38 according to the contour of the folded edge of the Work piece.

Referring now to Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, the several phases of operation through which the apparatus is moved in forming a fold at the edge of apiece of leather will be described. Presser member 35 is first placed in the position shown in Figure 6 of the drawings where the lower surface of presser 35 engages the upper surface of work support I1. This is accomplished by depression of treadle 2. Work piece 42 is then placed, with its edge to be folded, in engagement with the edge-gauge shoulder on presser 35, the hold-down mechanism being at this time in the position shown in full lines in Figure 6. When the work piece 42 is properly adjusted to fit the edge-gauge, the work piece may be permanently ciamped by a suitable spring clip 43 mounted upon a plate 44, which latter may be removably secured to the work support l? and functionally may be considered a part of the work support. With the work piece 42 thus properly arranged relative to lip 36 of presser 35, the hold-down mechanism may be moved to the dotted line position shown in Figure 6 where gripping member 23 engages the surface of the work piece i2 and clamps -the same against the work support. Hand pressure is sufcient, in view of the extended surface area of gripper 28 in contact with the Work piece, to insure against slippage of the work piece relative to the work support.

Having moved the hold-down mechanism into the dotted line position shown in Figure 6, forming member 29 is advanced to the position shown in Figure 7'. This does not disturb the gripping relation between gripper 23 and the work piece 42, but, as the edge 34 of former 25 approaches lip 3S of presser 35, treadle 2 is released and the work piece 42 is bent upwardly between lip and edge 34, as shown in Figure 7. It may be pointed out that the sequence of operations just described is not critical in that presser 35 may be permitted to. resume the position shown in Figure 7 before forming member 29` is advanced, or the forming member may be advanced to the position shown in Figure 7, while the presser 3 5 remains, in the position shown in Figure 6.

Having released the treadle 2 so that presser 35 assumes the position shown in Figure 7, and having advanced the forming member 2,3 so that the margin of work piece 42 is turned upwardly, as shown in Figure 7, treadle 3 is now depressed counterclockwise to effect the horizontal translation of the work support, hold-down mechanism, and work piece. Such horizontal translation turns the margin of work piece 42 back over the edge 34 of former 23 and brings the folded edge ofthe work piece 42 into engagementv with gauge 3B, as shownA in Figure 8.Y

'I-he former 2 9 may now be manually retracted to the position shown in Figure 9 where the edge 34 thereof is clear of presser 35 and treadle 2 depressed again to move presser 35 into the position shown in Figure 9, completing and pressing the fold.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 10, the hold-down mechanism is mounted upon a plate 45 corresponding in position and arrangement to the plate 44, above referred to, which is to say, secured to work support l1 against movement relative thereto during operation of the device.

Plate 45 is provided with a pair of bosses 46 for the reception of hinge pins to connect frame 30, gripper 28, former 29, and frame 3| identically as above described. In this embodiment, the linkage 22-23 and the hold-down carrier 25 are dispensed with. When the work piece is rst placed upon the work support, the hold-down mechanism, including the parts 28, 29, 30, and 3|, is moved out of the Way by rotation about the hinge connection to bosses 46, so as to clear the surface of the work support for placement in proper gauged relation relative to lip 36.

From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art should readily understand the construction and operation of the apparatus and realize the advantages thereof.

While one complete embodiment has been described in detail and a modification of the holddown mechanism described in addition, it will be readily understood that the invention is not limited to the form of apparatus disclosed, but that it is contemplated that the various parts thereof be subject to considerable variation without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a folding machine, a work support, a pressure member having a lip shaped according to the contour of the fold to be made and having a gauge adjacent said lip for positioning the work piece to be folded with relation to said lip, means for moving said pressure member between a position whereat said lip is substantially aligned with and a position Whereat said lip is elevated above said work support, a forming member having an edge shaped according to said lip and arranged to engage the work piece exteriorly of but adjacent to said lip, and means for translating said work support and forming member together with the`work piece beneath and beyond said lip while the pressure member is in elevated position.

2. In a folding machine, a work support, a pressure member having a lip shaped according to the contour of the fold to be made and having a gauge adjacent said lip for positioning the Work piece to be folded with relation to said lip, means for moving said pressure member between a position whereat said lip is substantially aligned with and a position whereat said lip is elevated above said work support, a forming member having an edge shaped according to said lip and arranged to engage the work piece exteriorly of but adjacent to said lip, and means for translating said work support and forming member together with the work piece beneath and beyond said lip while the pressure member is in elevated position, said forming member being mounted for movement relative to said work support in the plane of said translation to permit said forming member to be retracted from beneath said pressure member while the work support and work piece remain e cent to said lip,

- said work support, a

in 4advanced position beneath said pressure member.

3. In a folding machine, a work support, a pressure member having a lip shaped according to the contour of the fold to be made and having a gauge adjacent said lip for positioning the work piece to be folded with relation to said lip, means for moving said pressure member between a position whereat said lip is substantially aligned with and a position whereat said lip is elevated above forming member having an edge shaped according to said lip and arranged to engage the Work piece exteriorly of but adjameans for translating said work support and forming member together with the work piece beneath and beyond said lip While the pressure member is in elevated position, and an abutment arranged beneath said pressure member to limit the translation of the Work piece therebeneath.

4. In a folding machine, a work support, a pressure member having a lip shaped according to the contour of the fold to be made and having a gauge adjacent said lip for positioning the work piece to be folded with relation to said lip, means for moving said pressure member between a position whereat said lip is substantially aligned with and a position whereat said lip is elevated above said work support, a forming member having an edge shaped according to said lip and arranged to engage the work piece exteriorly of but adjacent to said lip, means for translating said work support and forming member together with the work piece beneath and beyond said lip while the pressure member is in elevated position, and an abutment arranged beneath said pressure member to limit the translation of the Work piece therebeneath, said forming member being arranged to recede from adjacent said abutment and beneath said pressure member While the latter grips the fold of the work piece against the work support.

5. In a folding machine, a work support, a pressure member having a lip shaped according to the contour of the fold to be made and having a gauge adjacent said lip, a hold-down including a gripping member and a forming member, the latter being mounted to slide upon the gripping member, said forming member having an edge shaped according to said lip, means for translating said work support and hold-down together with a work piece gripped between said gripping member and said work support, said forming member being freely translatable relative to the other parts moved by said translating means.

ELMER D. COSTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

